Euclid City Council adopts 2025 appropriation ordinance and approves street, water and equipment contracts

Euclid City Council on March 17 adopted an emergency appropriation ordinance that sets the city's 2025 spending plan and cleared a slate of contracts and equipment purchases for streets, water main work and public works equipment.

The council unanimously passed the final reading of Ordinance 015-25, which makes annual appropriations for the city for the period ending Dec. 31, 2025. The administration said the ordinance incorporates amendments discussed at three budget hearings held Feb. 24, Feb. 26 and March 5; the ordinance will be transmitted to Cuyahoga County for approval by March 31. Council members were told transfer ordinances to move funds internally will be presented at the next meeting.

Why it matters: the appropriation ordinance funds city operations and capital projects approved this year, and it commits matching dollars that enable state grant awards, including a Shore Cultural Center window replacement phase.

Votes at a glance

- Ordinance 015-25 (2025 appropriation ordinance): approved on third reading; will be sent to the county by March 31; transfers to follow at next meeting.

- Ordinance 026-25 (Osborne Engineering contract): authorized public service director to enter agreement with Osborne Engineering for construction administration and inspection services on the East 220/226/230/270 water main replacement project, not to exceed $97,700. Approved unanimously.

- Ordinance 029-25 (GPD Group contract): authorized the city engineer (GPD Group) to perform construction administration and inspection services for the 2025 road program, including lane marking, at a cost of $266,886 (estimated 2,916 man‑hours). Approved unanimously.

- Ordinance 027-25 (mini excavator): authorized purchase of a 2025 Caterpillar 304 mini excavator with hammer for the streets and sewers department for $79,164.82 through the Sourcewell cooperative purchasing program; the machine replaces a roughly 15‑year‑old unit and the old unit will be sold "as is" for parts. Approved unanimously.

- Ordinance 030-25 (leaf collection vehicle): authorized purchase of an Old Dominion Brush arm leaf vacuum for the streets and sewers department for $286,573.02; the vehicle will bring the city's dedicated leaf‑collection fleet to six vehicles. Approved unanimously.

- Ordinance 028-25 (police professional liability insurance): authorized a one‑year contract with Greenridge Insurance Company for police professional liability insurance from April 1, 2025, through March 31, 2026, at a cost not to exceed $129,395 (a reported decrease of about 4% from the prior year). Approved unanimously.

- Ordinance 031-25 (Shore Cultural Center grant acceptance): authorized the mayor or designee to accept a $400,000 State of Ohio capital grant for Shore Cultural Center window replacement, and committed $200,000 in local matching funds. The administration said the match was included in the budget the council just passed; work by the same contractor who completed earlier phases can proceed after approval by the Ohio Facilities Commission, which the administration said typically takes up to 30 days. Approved unanimously.

Details and context

The budget process included three committee hearings during which department directors presented operating and capital requests (police, fire, recreation, municipal court, planning and development, service, finance, and others). Council members unanimously passed a motion in committee to amend Ordinance 015-25 and recommended the amended ordinance for passage by the full council.

Public works items approved Tuesday are largely implementation steps for previously authorized capital projects: the Osborne Engineering contract covers construction inspection for a multi‑street water main replacement; the GPD Group contract covers administration and inspection of the city's 2025 road resurfacing and lane‑marking program. Administration noted contractors plan to begin milling and resurfacing as soon as weather permits.

On equipment, service department staff said the excavator purchase replaces a machine at the end of its useful life; the city will sell the old unit for parts. The new leaf collection vehicle was described as necessary given equipment failures and parts delays this season; the administration explained that the closure of some local compost/dumping sites lengthened haul times and slowed collection last year.

On Shore Cultural Center, the council heard that the grant will fund a third phase of window replacements; roughly 55 windows will remain to be replaced in a later phase if funding is found. Administration and several council members noted Shore's role as a hub for small businesses, arts and community programs and urged continued pursuit of additional fundraising and public‑private partnership opportunities.

Next steps

The adopted appropriation ordinance will be sent to Cuyahoga County for review by March 31. The council will consider budget transfer legislation at its next meeting to move appropriated dollars between line items. Shore window work is contingent on final state facilities commission approval and contractor scheduling.

(See the actions array for ordinance identifiers, amounts and formal outcomes recorded by the council.)